Kellie Harper Pre UConn Game Press Conference

[hoopsfan22]

How many of the remaining games really matter from here on out? A couple more wins against Big East cupcakes and we've punched our ticket.

 

[Bald Husky]

No. Rocky top in NOT the move is all. Recruits don’t know are care about the long lost tradition. Tennessee is not attractive to recruits but the fans don’t realize it.

The fans keep wondering why the high school recruits don't sign with Tennessee. It's simple, all they have to do is look in the mirror. What 17 year old girl, as well as their parents, want to read all the vile that may be said about them on their forum. They have their self to blame.

 

[Mdoggie]

The fans keep wondering why the high school recruits don't sign with Tennessee. It's simple, all they have to do is look in the mirror. What 17 year old girl, as well as their parents, want to read all the vile that may be said about them on their forum. They have their self to blame.

So true however they’ll blame ESPN, D, Geno, God and the baby Jesus! lol

 

[HuskyNan]

The Gamecocks, on the road, beat UCONN by 20 points. Too much of a talent differential, even if fully healthy,

Which has zero to do with this season and even less to do with UConn vs Tenn. Why, if you’re not careful, someone might think you’re trolling

 

[LwrcasefaN]

So true however they’ll blame ESPN, D, Geno, God and the baby ! lol

They're not wrong about the baby.

 

[Alibi Ike]

The fans keep wondering why the high school recruits don't sign with Tennessee. It's simple, all they have to do is look in the mirror. What 17 year old girl, as well as their parents, want to read all the vile that may be said about them on their forum. They have their self to blame.

The players are not naive innocent children. They were raised on social media, and they know before signing with Tennessee that they will be publicly criticized if they don't uphold certain standards.

 

[bballnut90]

Kelli is very well spoken and logical. I think she has done a very nice job at Tennessee considering what a mess they were under Holly. She needs to up her recruiting to truly make them Top 10 relevant again. So UConn is down Paige, Azzi, Carolyn and front court depth Ice Brady and yet we are still a 6.5 point favorite by Massey at Tennessee who will have 14,000 fanatics at the game. I never would have thought that at the beginning of the year. Wow, just wow and I am looking forward to this game.

Worth noting, Tennessee is also likely without 2 of their 3 best players in Key/Horston and lost another former starter/role player in Marta Suarez who left the team a few weeks ago. A shame both teams wont be at full strength but regardless it should be a good game to watch.

 

[Next 12]

The Gamecocks, on the road, beat UCONN by 20 points. Too much of a talent differential, even if fully healthy,

That was then, this is now. UCONN is a much better team than in the beginning of the season. UCONN's 5 star players are at the top of the game and SC is in for a surprise. GO HUSKIES!!!

 

[Mdoggie]

Worth noting, Tennessee is also likely without 2 of their 3 best players in Key/Horston and lost another former starter/role player in Marta Suarez who left the team a few weeks ago. A shame both teams wont be at full strength but regardless it should be a good game to watch.

Have you guys been watching Key during any of her playing time at Tennessee? She is tall. Nothing more nothing less. If she is one of their best, that program is in a sorry state. Suarez? Good grief!! Keep reaching for straws. Horston is an athlete. Basketball player for now. She will go top 10 in the draft but like Davis her game will suffer at the pro level. Too much iso ball.

 

[HuskyNan]

Have you guys been watching Key during any of her playing time at Tennessee? She is tall. Nothing more nothing less. If she is one of their best, that program is in a sorry state. Suarez? Good grief!! Keep reaching for straws. Horston is an athlete. Basketball player for now. She will go top 10 in the draft but like Davis her game will suffer at the pro level. Too much iso ball.

Geez, dial it back. There was no need to take a shot at Key

Lady Vols basketball center Tamari Key out for season due to blood clots in lungs

Lady Vols basketball center Tamari Key is out for the season due to blood clots found in her lungs, Tennessee coach Kellie Harper announced Thursday.

www.knoxnews.com

 

[bballnut90]

Have you guys been watching Key during any of her playing time at Tennessee? She is tall. Nothing more nothing less. If she is one of their best, that program is in a sorry state. Suarez? Good grief!! Keep reaching for straws. Horston is an athlete. Basketball player for now. She will go top 10 in the draft but like Davis her game will suffer at the pro level. Too much iso ball.

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish here. All I stated is that Tennessee will also be far from full strength tomorrow.

 

[HuskyNan]

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish here. All I stated is that Tennessee will also be far from full strength tomorrow.

You’re always welcome here. You’ve been on the Boneyard a lot longer and have a track record as a respectful and respected poster. Unfortunately, we still have some haters

 

[bballnut90]

You’re always welcome here. You’ve been on the Boneyard a lot longer and have a track record as a respectful and respected poster. Unfortunately, we still have some haters

Thanks Nan, much appreciated!

 

[Geew1992]

Not sure what you're trying to accomplish here. All I stated is that Tennessee will also be far from full strength tomorrow.

I wish it was tomorrow

 

[Zorro]

It will be no contest.

 

[DrummerDee]

Worth noting, Tennessee is also likely without 2 of their 3 best players in Key/Horston and lost another former starter/role player in Marta Suarez who left the team a few weeks ago. A shame both teams wont be at full strength but regardless it should be a good game to watch.

No one has said officially that Horston is not playing, have they?

 

[sun]

I liked that Harper said that she wants the rivalry to continue.
It motivates everyone on both sides to play their best & it helps to draw national attention to both programs.
I'm glad that Harper isn't backing off continuing the rivalry and it says a lot about her desire to grow the game whether Tennessee wins or loses.
She's carrying the torch for Pat into another new era.
Times change but she's helping to maintain a tradition.
It's a good lesson to teach kids & her own fan base that there's nothing wrong with being an underdog.
Win or lose you root for the team that you like, and attend the school that you like because not everyone can play or root for UConn.
It's the same all over, high school kids pick a school, they learn, they bond and they play.
The game is bigger than either program.
It's about the spirit of competition.
Kudos to her.

 

[CajunHusky]

Worth noting, Tennessee is also likely without 2 of their 3 best players in Key/Horston and lost another former starter/role player in Marta Suarez who left the team a few weeks ago. A shame both teams wont be at full strength but regardless it should be a good game to watch.

When they jump ball they will both have five players on the court ..... both teams will be at full strength.

 

[CL82]

Worth noting, Tennessee is also likely without 2 of their 3 best players in Key/Horston and lost another former starter/role player in Marta Suarez who left the team a few weeks ago. A shame both teams wont be at full strength but regardless it should be a good game to watch.

Oh, they have two players out due to injury?

 

[Surly1]

Geez, dial it back. There was no need to take a shot at Key

Lady Vols basketball center Tamari Key out for season due to blood clots in lungs

Lady Vols basketball center Tamari Key is out for the season due to blood clots found in her lungs, Tennessee coach Kellie Harper announced Thursday.

www.knoxnews.com

I think a dose of objectivity is needed. I understand there is no love for UT, but Kellie Harper is in a tough spot. Think back to any sport and the track record of replacing a legend is an almost impossible challenge. This will apply one day to UConn whenever Geno decides to step down.

Fans want to relive the "glory" days and fail to adjust their expectations. It may be that UT will never reach the lofty perch again - things end, situations change. For long-term success, recruiting is and will be the tried-and-true formula that works. Gene's approach to the transfer portal differs in that it is not wholesale, but for a specific need. Also, similar to HS recruits, he looks for the right "character."

In the presser, I thought Harper was magnanimous. She and the rest of the BY's see that despite a limited bench, our starting five is as good as anyone in the country, if not better. Teams will try to wear UConn down, but by the time it happens, UConn will be ahead by double digits.

I feel the team is ready for the hostile environment, poised to handle UT's opening salvo, and overall, has better talent and chemistry. Of course, it would be more reassuring to have more reserves, but the starting five is a seasoned, smart group that is up for the challenge.

SC presents more obstacles. They are the one team that can send in waves of players without a discernible drop in talent that could eventually expose UConn's lack of depth. However, if the starting five can avoid foul trouble, they can take the game down to the wire.

 

[Tonyc]

In past years UConn being physical with Tenn has resulted in fouls on UConn. In past seasons Tenn being physical with UConn doesnt necessarily result in fouls on Tenn. Im hoping thats not the case Thursday. This is a different Tenn era and I would like to see a game where UConn is not in foul trouble and no more injuries.

As far as Tenn recruiting. Tenn is not listed on Hoopgurlz as having any recruits in 2023. Thats a problem. I would think the transfer portal and transfers would be the way Tenn would get replacements for those roster players graduating. Perhaps some players stay for their covid year.

Im hoping for a good fair game with no injuries.

 

[Brewski]

The big gorilla in the room is foul trouble. I am not convinced yet that AE, Lou, and Nika as a collective unit can stay out of foul trouble. I am not worried about Dorka and Aubrey. They are not foul factories. These two teams will have a physical game and our limited bench better be ready to perform well. I can't pick a winner cause I don't know how the fouls will fall. I really hope I am wrong! Worried over here in Denver

 

[Bone Dog]

Yeah................conference games. Hard to tell right now which one is going to give them the BIGGEST beat down. My $$ is on the Gamecocks.

In my "best of all possible worlds," we give Tennessee a beatdown tomorrow, they give LSU a beatdown, and then SC gives them both serious beatdowns. As they used to say in the English civil wars, "This is the proper order of things."

 

[Bone Dog]

In past years UConn being physical with Tenn has resulted in fouls on UConn. In past seasons Tenn being physical with UConn doesnt necessarily result in fouls on Tenn.

Now, to return to more civil patterns of thought: I cringe when I hear coaches say they want their players to be "more physical." This never seems to mean playing with good energy and intensity, with athleticism. What it tends to mean in practice is lots of pushing and shoving in the paint -- that's ok, as long as it doesn't go to far -- and lots of bumping cutters, and lots of slapping at the ball, the arms, the hands. If the slapping and reach-ins go too far this is how we get concussions, eye-pokes, etc. One thing Tennessee is not known for is flopping. That at least doesn't appear to be the style of play Kellie coaches.

The topper, is when opposing coaches say UConn is physical. Yes, we push back, but that's about it. We don't do bump cutters, we don't slap at a ball handler's face. We pick pockets and jump passing lanes, not slap opponents silly.

 

[hoopsfan22]

The big gorilla in the room is foul trouble. I am not convinced yet that AE, Lou, and Nika as a collective unit can stay out of foul trouble. I am not worried about Dorka and Aubrey. They are not foul factories. These two teams will have a physical game and our limited bench better be ready to perform well. I can't pick a winner cause I don't know how the fouls will fall. I really hope I am wrong! Worried over here in Denver

Aaliyah has been fine this year, and Nika has matured enough to know when she can be aggressive and when to dial it back just enough to avoid foul trouble. Plus we'll have 8 solid players.